The hole story: Bhullar, Muniyappa putt it right
New Delhi, December 26
Gaganjeet Bhullar bridged the gap between promise and performance, while C Muniyappa starred in a rags-to-riches story as the Young Turks outshone their senior pros in 2009 to assure that the future of Indian golf is in safe hands.

Sl Tour Of
India5th ODI 0900 hrs
India look to sign off in style
New Delhi, December 26
Sachin Tendulkar skipped the net session at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here this morning; so did some Sri Lankan players. Yet, there was no slackening in the seriousness of both the teams as they geared up for the fifth and final One Day International match to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here tomorrow.

Ranji Trophy
Karnataka take first innings lead
Mysore, December 26
A classy 115 by Manish Pandey and Vinay Kumar’s unbeaten 51 clinched Karnataka the vital first innings lead against Punjab on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal here
today. Resuming at 265 for six, the hosts were all out for 378, which largely revolved around Pandey’s 147-ball innings, and secured a 78-run lead at the Gangothri Glades Cricket Ground.

Liberals hockey tourney from today
Nabha (Patiala), December 26
The 34th edition of the All India Liberals hockey tournament is all set to kick off at its traditional venue - the government Ripudaman college grounds - here tomorrow.

Ludhiana to host National Basketball Championship
Ludhiana, December 26
With the arrival of teams from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura and Services here today, the ball has been set rolling for the 60th Pearls Senior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women, slated to be held at Guru Nanak Stadium from December 27 to January 3.

With three top-25 finishes, Muniyappa signed off the season 10th on the Order of Merit

Bhullar lifted five titles at home and became the youngest Indian to win an Asian Tour title (Indonesian President Invitational) and play in a Major (The
British Open) in a season that has redefined his career.

New Delhi, December 26
Gaganjeet Bhullar bridged the gap between promise and performance, while C Muniyappa starred in a rags-to-riches story as the Young Turks outshone their senior pros in 2009 to assure that the future of Indian golf is in safe hands. Among the Big Three, Jeev Milkha Singh had a rare winless year, Arjun Atwal spent most of the time recovering from career-threatening injuries and inconsistent Jyoti Randhawa tasted his lone success at the Singha Thailand Open.

In stark contrast, Bhullar and Muniyappa earned their breakthrough wins on Asian Tour, Shiv Kapur came tantalisingly close to winning his maiden European Tour title in South Africa and Anirban Lahiri signalling he could be the next Indian to lift an Asian Tour title. And there could be no second opinion that Bhullar was the find of the season.

An imposing 22-year-old from the Punjab town of Kapurthala, Bhullar lifted five titles at home and became the youngest Indian to win an Asian Tour title (Indonesian President Invitational) and play in a Major (The British Open) in a season that has redefined his career.

Besides, he finished runners-up at two other Asian Tour events - Brunei Open and the Macau Open. His world rankings improved significantly as a result and Bhullar ended the season 167th in the world. The strapping golfer signed off sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit this year with impressive earnings of $308,916. He had barely managed to retain his card last season when he had to wait until the second last tournament to be inside the top-65 in the money list.

While Bhullar rose meteorically, caddie-turned-pro Muniyappa’s success came slow and steady. The 32-year-old, who spent his childhood caddying at the Karnataka Golf Association before turning pro in 1997, lifted his maiden Asian Tour title at the Indian Open in October.

With three other top-25 finishes, Muniyappa signed off the season 10th on the Order of Merit. The Asian Tour Rookie of the Year award was the icing on the cake for the humble Bangalorean. Anirban Lahiri was another Indian golfer whose career seemed on the upswing despite the fact that he won just a couple of domestic titles. Lahiri, however, was consistency personified with seven top-10 finishes out of 11 starts he made in the domestic circuit. The consistency helped Lahiri end the year on top of the Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit and walk away with the Player of the Year trophy at the annual PGTI awards.

But it was a disappointing year for established stars like Jeev and Randhawa. Jeev’s season, meanwhile, was marred by injuries. The Chandigarh golfer, who won four titles on three different tours last year, had no wins to show in 29 tournaments he played and the only highlight of his season was the fourth-place finish at the WGC-CA Championships. His rankings suffered because of the mediocre show and the seasoned golfer slipped out of the top-50 to end the year 58th.

Randhawa, on the other hand, flopped on the European Tour but notched up a few top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour but apart from winning the Thailand Open, he failed to make much impact. Shiv Kapur had a similar tale of disappointment to tell for most part of the season before he managed to end it on a positive note with a runner-up finish at the South African Open. Arjun Atwal continued to nurse a career-threatening wrist and didn’t play enough to make any impact.

The mixed fortunes of players notwithstanding, Indian golf remained on the rise beating the recession blues that have rocked the game elsewhere. In fact, the country will welcome two new tournaments in 2010, the euro 1.5 million Avantha Masters from February 11-14 and the $500,000 Nimbus Pro-Am Championship from February 18 to 21 and with new stars waiting to make a mark, the coming year promises to be an exciting one for Indian golf.
— PTI

New Delhi, December 26
Sachin Tendulkar skipped the net session at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here this morning; so did some Sri Lankan players. Yet, there was no slackening in the seriousness of both the teams as they geared up for the fifth and final One Day International match to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here tomorrow.

Though India have clinched the series 3-1 lead, making the fifth ODI a dead rubber, captain Mahender Singh Dhoni, returning to the team after sitting out a two-match suspension, is not taking the contest lightly, as he wants to sign off the year on a winning note. “We have won the series 3-1, but 4-1 (scoreline) would be better. This match we would play without pressure”, said Dhoni after the team’s workout.

Dhoni said he would not be going for too much experiment tomorrow, preferring to retain the winning squad from
Kolkata, save for “one or two changes”, which is likely to be in the bowling department. With the exclusion of pacers
Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar, and Zaheer Khan likely to be benched, Dhoni will have the option of fielding
Sreesanth, new man Sudeep Tyagi, Ashok Dhinda and Ashish Nehra.

But the captain kept the final team composition close to his heart. Dhoni said bowling was a cause for concern as it was a high-scoring series so far, though the matches were played on “good wickets”. “Apart from Eden Gardens, there was not
much swing in other wickets. It was wrong to blame the fast bowlers”, he observed.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara also echoed Dhoni’s view that the series was a heart-beaking experience for the bowlers of both the teams, but a sunny show for the batsmen. Sangakkara hinted that the visitors were again beset with injuries, though he refused to name the players on the injury list.

Dhoni said overall, it was a good show by the Indians. “We got wickets and good partnerships whenever we needed
them; our fielding is also improving”. Dhoni said the middle order batting was better, though it was not stretched much. “If you take away the openers, our middle order is better”, elaborated the captain. Obviously, he was expecting Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir to give India a roaring start yet again.

The two-match break enabled Dhoni to get a ringside view of the Indian team’s plus and minus points. But he excused himself when asked to give marks to Virender Sehwag’s captaincy, who led the team to victories in both the ODIs he captained to win the series. “That’s your (media’s) job to give him marks. He did a great job,” Dhoni noted.

Mysore, December 26
A classy 115 by Manish Pandey and Vinay Kumar’s unbeaten 51 clinched Karnataka the vital first innings lead against Punjab on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal here today. Resuming at 265 for six, the hosts were all out for 378, which largely revolved around Pandey’s 147-ball innings, and secured a 78-run lead at the Gangothri Glades Cricket Ground.

In reply, Punjab were 165 for one, with Sunny Sohal (85 batting) and Mayank Sidhana (37 batting) at the crease, when the penultimate day’s play was called off. Punjab, who are now 87 runs ahead, would have to score at a rapid pace on the last day tomorrow to give their bowlers sufficient time to bowl out Karnataka in their second essay. Punjab piled up 300 in their first innings.

Pandey, who resumed at personal 76, hogged the limelight. The sinewy youngster began the day with a crunching cover drive off pacer Manpreet Singh Gony to set the momentum for his team. Pandey cracked six fours and a six off Harmeet Singh to bring up his third hundred of the season, taking his run aggregate to an impressive 668 with an average of 66.8.

Mumbai firmly
in command

ROHTAK: Off-spinner Romesh Powar scalped four wickets as defending champions Mumbai consolidated their position with a 355-run lead against Haryana on the third day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal here today. Powar spun the web around Haryana batsmen with figures of four for 42 from his 22 overs, while pacer Dhawal Kulkarni (2/26), Usman Malvi (2/28) and Abdullah (2/34) picked up two wickets each to bundle out hosts for 164 in their first innings in reply to Mumbai’s 400.

At stumps, Mumbai were 119 for three in their second essay. Opener Sahil Kukreja remained unbeaten on 63 while Rohit Sharma celebrated his recall to the Indian team with 51 off 66 balls that included eight fours before he fell prey to Pacer Sanjay Budhwar (2/21). Earlier, resuming at 34 for two, Haryana received the first blow at the team score of 72 in the form of Manav Sharma (20) who was clean bowled by Powar.

The hosts kept losing wickets with only three of the last six batsmen managing double figures. Opener Rahul Dewan was notable scorer with a patient 70.
— PTI

Nabha (Patiala), December 26
The 34th edition of the All India Liberals hockey tournament is all set to kick off at its traditional venue - the government Ripudaman college grounds - here tomorrow.

This edition of the prestigious tourney, which has been accorded Grade A by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), will be played in the memory of founder member and senior vice president of the organising committee Manmohan Dugala who passed away in September this year.

In the first match, North Eastern Railway (NER), Gorakhpur take on BEG, Pune while in the second match Centre of Excellence, Patiala square off against Dhudhike college, Jagraon.

Centre of Excellence is a SAI scheme being run at the NIS, Patiala and the team has several talented young players in its ranks. However, their disadvantage is that since they practise on astro-turf they will feel the pressure when they take on their rivals on grass where players have to bend their bodies more than they do on a synthetic surface to ensure control over the ball.

The Jagraon college team is a last minute replacement for the experienced Western Railway, Mumbai who are busy with a six-a-side tournament currently underway at Mumbai.

It is pertinent to mention here that for a long time the organisers have been urging successive state governments to sanction funds so that an astro-turf can be laid at the venue but to no avail. Many politicians, who come as chief guests, have repeatedly promised that they would look into the issue but once the tournament ends the subject gets consigned to the backburner.

Keeping in view the overall security scenario in the country, the Ministry of External affairs has not allowed any Pakistani team to play in the tournament. The organisers were expecting Ideal hockey club from Lahore but security considerations have ensured that no team from across the border takes part in the tournament.

Ludhiana, December 26
With the arrival of teams from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura and Services here today, the ball has been set rolling for the 60th Pearls Senior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women, slated to be held at Guru Nanak Stadium from December 27 to January 3.

Rajdeep Singh Gill, DGP, Punjab, Director, Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur and president of the Basketball Federation of India informed that the remaining teams were expected to reach here tonight. As many as 25 men and 22 women teams would battle it out in this mega event.

“The Punjab Basketball Association has set up reception centres at the local railway stations and volunteers who have been assigned the duties to receive visiting teams and officials so that they do not face any problems,” said Gill. Matches will be played on four grounds including the main indoor basketball hall which has been spurced up for the meet.

Imported maple wood has been laid down in the indoor hall and the seating capacity has been increased. During this seven-day sports extravaganza, players of international repute will also be seen in action and the winners will be richer by Rs 5 lakh in the men’s as well as in the women’s sections, added Gill.

“We have invited the Arjuna awardees (basketball) and their family members to be present during the course of this championship. These stars of yester-years will be felicitated ,” said BFA president. Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet Singh Badal, a former national basketball player will inaugurate the championship on Sunday at 2.30 pm.

BRIEFLY

Actor Sylvester Stallone during an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Los Angeles,
on Friday. — AP/PTI

Sehwag batsman of the decade, says Pringle
LONDON: Highly impressed with Virender Sehwag’s pyrotechnics, former England cricketer Derek Pringle has rated the dashing Indian opener as the greatest batsman of the decade. “Dashing openers have always been with us, and Chris Gayle may yet take violence against the new ball a step further, but nobody yet has managed to do it with the audacity and frequency of Sehwag,” Pringle said.
— PTI

Will lay bare drug dramas: Asif
MELBOURNE: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has vowed to lay bare his “drug dramas” after he tested positive for a banned steroid during the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008. “I had a very strong case, but they didn’t actually listen. I will tell everything when the time will come,” he said.
— PTI

HI constitution not proper: KHA
CHENNAI: Indian Olympic Association has failed to get the basics right in drafting the constitution of Hockey India, Karnataka Hockey Association (KHA) Secretary K Krishnamurthy said on Saturday. “The IOA nine-member constitution committee has not taken note of problems arising out of merger of men and women units at the state level ” Krishnamurthy said.
— PTI

No pressure on Torres: Benitez
LONDON: Rafa Benitez has dismissed reports that Spain is putting pressure on the club into sending Fernando Torres for surgery to ensure that he is 100 per cent fit. Benitez said, “Torres’ condition is improving and he could manage a full Christmas programme. In training this week he was fine. We’ve been patient with him and it is working.”
— ANI